The Hindu : Brazil breaks into mega celebration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 01, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Brazil breaks into mega celebration

Brazilian fans watching a large-screen TV, at a party on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, react after Brazil scored the first goal against Germany in the final. — AP

Rio De Janeiro (Brazil) June 30. Brazil broke into wild samba celebrations today as the national side's 2-0 World Cup final win over Germany triggered an explosion of national joy.

Car horns blared in cities across the country, fireworks crackled across the sky and millions of Brazilians waving the national colours streamed into the streets to pay homage to the team that collected the ``penta'' -- a fifth World Cup title unequalled by any other country.

Four years after the country went into mourning following the traumatic 1998 World Cup final defeat to France, Brazilians reclaimed their pride as the cradle of Pele's ``beautiful game.''

For a while Latin America's biggest country can forget the struggle through hard times and a bleak economic future.

Both goals by Ronaldo, now elevated to near sainthood here, sparked seismic eruptions of joy in Rio where samba bands struck up the dance music to launch a massive street party.

The tension generated by a scoreless first half only increased the release of bottled up emotion when the final whistle blew. Fans hugged one another and smiled through their tears.

Brazilians woke early for the morning kick off in Yokohama, Japan, and most opted to watch the game with their families at home .

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